A nuclear ban is coming – Draft treaty released

 
UNFOLD ZERO Newsletter
Dear friends,
The United Nations negotiations for a legally binding agreement on the prohibition of nuclear weapons have moved into the next (and possibly penultimate) stage.

On May 22, Ambassador Whyte Gómez (Costa Rica), the President of the UN negotiating conference, released a draft of the treaty.

As expected the draft treaty outlines general obligations that would prohibited States parties to the treaty from developing, producing, acquiring, possessing, testing or using nuclear weapons.

The draft treaty also requires states parties to accept safeguards on nuclear energy facilities, with a view to preventing diversion of nuclear energy from peaceful uses to nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices.

The ban treaty and financing of nuclear weapons production

The nuclear weapons industry is one of the most powerful drivers behind, and one of the few beneficiaries of, the continuing the nuclear arms race.

This industry is supported by many non-nuclear States, whose public funds and banks invest in the corporations making nuclear weapons and their delivery systems. As such, UNFOLD ZERO has proposed that the nuclear ban treaty include a specific prohibition on the financing of nuclear weapons.
The draft treaty includes a prohibition on aiding, encouraging or inducing others to manufacture nuclear weapons, which could be interpreted as banning such investments. However, this is not clear.

UNFOLD ZERO will therefore continue to encourage the negotiating governments to include in the final treaty a specific prohibition on financing the production of nuclear weapons.

Next (final?) round of negotiations in New York

The next round of negotiations on the draft treaty will take place in New York from June 15 – July 7, 2017. It is possible that the negotiations could result in a treaty ready to be adopted by the negotiating governments at the end of this session.

UNFOLD ZERO will join other NGOs in New York to observe the negotiations and to organise side-events to support or influence the negotiations.

There is also an informal one day meeting of government delegations in Geneva on June 2 at which UNFOLD ZERO will speak on the proposal to prohibit financing of nuclear weapons production.

Some side-events at the ban negotiations in New York

  • June 16: Parliamentary Action-Plan for a Nuclear-Weapon-Free World. Organised by PNND
  • June 17: Women’s March to Ban the Bomb
  • June 18: No nukes, no walls, no warming. A Peace & Planet conference
  • June 19: Youth actions and plans for nuclear disarmament. Organised by the Abolition 2000 Youth Working Group
  • June 21: Examples of national implementation measures. Organised by PNND and the World Future Council
  • June 22: Lessons from the Chemical and Biological weapons Conventions. Organised by the International Peace Bureau.
  • June 29: The Ban and the 2018 UN High Level Conference. Organised by UNFOLD ZERO, PNND and Basel Peace Office

For a full list of events see NGO side events.
Yours sincerely
The UNFOLD ZERO team

Related Posts

Will Cheap Renewables Make Nuclear Power Obsolete?

Will Cheap Renewables Make Nuclear Power Obsolete?

Cheap renewables are mounting a serious challenge to nuclear power, which in 2017 has had a difficult year. Key projects have been abandoned, costs are rising, and politicians in countries which previously championed the industry are withdrawing their support.

A nuclear ban is coming – Draft treaty released

 
UNFOLD ZERO Newsletter
Dear friends,
The United Nations negotiations for a legally binding agreement on the prohibition of nuclear weapons have moved into the next (and possibly penultimate) stage.

On May 22, Ambassador Whyte Gómez (Costa Rica), the President of the UN negotiating conference, released a draft of the treaty.

As expected the draft treaty outlines general obligations that would prohibited States parties to the treaty from developing, producing, acquiring, possessing, testing or using nuclear weapons.

The draft treaty also requires states parties to accept safeguards on nuclear energy facilities, with a view to preventing diversion of nuclear energy from peaceful uses to nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices.

The ban treaty and financing of nuclear weapons production

The nuclear weapons industry is one of the most powerful drivers behind, and one of the few beneficiaries of, the continuing the nuclear arms race.

This industry is supported by many non-nuclear States, whose public funds and banks invest in the corporations making nuclear weapons and their delivery systems. As such, UNFOLD ZERO has proposed that the nuclear ban treaty include a specific prohibition on the financing of nuclear weapons.
The draft treaty includes a prohibition on aiding, encouraging or inducing others to manufacture nuclear weapons, which could be interpreted as banning such investments. However, this is not clear.

UNFOLD ZERO will therefore continue to encourage the negotiating governments to include in the final treaty a specific prohibition on financing the production of nuclear weapons.

Next (final?) round of negotiations in New York

The next round of negotiations on the draft treaty will take place in New York from June 15 – July 7, 2017. It is possible that the negotiations could result in a treaty ready to be adopted by the negotiating governments at the end of this session.

UNFOLD ZERO will join other NGOs in New York to observe the negotiations and to organise side-events to support or influence the negotiations.

There is also an informal one day meeting of government delegations in Geneva on June 2 at which UNFOLD ZERO will speak on the proposal to prohibit financing of nuclear weapons production.

Some side-events at the ban negotiations in New York

  • June 16: Parliamentary Action-Plan for a Nuclear-Weapon-Free World. Organised by PNND
  • June 17: Women’s March to Ban the Bomb
  • June 18: No nukes, no walls, no warming. A Peace & Planet conference
  • June 19: Youth actions and plans for nuclear disarmament. Organised by the Abolition 2000 Youth Working Group
  • June 21: Examples of national implementation measures. Organised by PNND and the World Future Council
  • June 22: Lessons from the Chemical and Biological weapons Conventions. Organised by the International Peace Bureau.
  • June 29: The Ban and the 2018 UN High Level Conference. Organised by UNFOLD ZERO, PNND and Basel Peace Office

For a full list of events see NGO side events.
Yours sincerely
The UNFOLD ZERO team

Related Posts

A nuclear ban is coming – Draft treaty released

 
UNFOLD ZERO Newsletter
Dear friends,
The United Nations negotiations for a legally binding agreement on the prohibition of nuclear weapons have moved into the next (and possibly penultimate) stage.

On May 22, Ambassador Whyte Gómez (Costa Rica), the President of the UN negotiating conference, released a draft of the treaty.

As expected the draft treaty outlines general obligations that would prohibited States parties to the treaty from developing, producing, acquiring, possessing, testing or using nuclear weapons.

The draft treaty also requires states parties to accept safeguards on nuclear energy facilities, with a view to preventing diversion of nuclear energy from peaceful uses to nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices.

The ban treaty and financing of nuclear weapons production

The nuclear weapons industry is one of the most powerful drivers behind, and one of the few beneficiaries of, the continuing the nuclear arms race.

This industry is supported by many non-nuclear States, whose public funds and banks invest in the corporations making nuclear weapons and their delivery systems. As such, UNFOLD ZERO has proposed that the nuclear ban treaty include a specific prohibition on the financing of nuclear weapons.
The draft treaty includes a prohibition on aiding, encouraging or inducing others to manufacture nuclear weapons, which could be interpreted as banning such investments. However, this is not clear.

UNFOLD ZERO will therefore continue to encourage the negotiating governments to include in the final treaty a specific prohibition on financing the production of nuclear weapons.

Next (final?) round of negotiations in New York

The next round of negotiations on the draft treaty will take place in New York from June 15 – July 7, 2017. It is possible that the negotiations could result in a treaty ready to be adopted by the negotiating governments at the end of this session.

UNFOLD ZERO will join other NGOs in New York to observe the negotiations and to organise side-events to support or influence the negotiations.

There is also an informal one day meeting of government delegations in Geneva on June 2 at which UNFOLD ZERO will speak on the proposal to prohibit financing of nuclear weapons production.

Some side-events at the ban negotiations in New York

  • June 16: Parliamentary Action-Plan for a Nuclear-Weapon-Free World. Organised by PNND
  • June 17: Women’s March to Ban the Bomb
  • June 18: No nukes, no walls, no warming. A Peace & Planet conference
  • June 19: Youth actions and plans for nuclear disarmament. Organised by the Abolition 2000 Youth Working Group
  • June 21: Examples of national implementation measures. Organised by PNND and the World Future Council
  • June 22: Lessons from the Chemical and Biological weapons Conventions. Organised by the International Peace Bureau.
  • June 29: The Ban and the 2018 UN High Level Conference. Organised by UNFOLD ZERO, PNND and Basel Peace Office

For a full list of events see NGO side events.
Yours sincerely
The UNFOLD ZERO team

Related Posts

Will Cheap Renewables Make Nuclear Power Obsolete?

Will Cheap Renewables Make Nuclear Power Obsolete?

Cheap renewables are mounting a serious challenge to nuclear power, which in 2017 has had a difficult year. Key projects have been abandoned, costs are rising, and politicians in countries which previously championed the industry are withdrawing their support.

A nuclear ban is coming – Draft treaty released

 
UNFOLD ZERO Newsletter
Dear friends,
The United Nations negotiations for a legally binding agreement on the prohibition of nuclear weapons have moved into the next (and possibly penultimate) stage.

On May 22, Ambassador Whyte Gómez (Costa Rica), the President of the UN negotiating conference, released a draft of the treaty.

As expected the draft treaty outlines general obligations that would prohibited States parties to the treaty from developing, producing, acquiring, possessing, testing or using nuclear weapons.

The draft treaty also requires states parties to accept safeguards on nuclear energy facilities, with a view to preventing diversion of nuclear energy from peaceful uses to nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices.

The ban treaty and financing of nuclear weapons production

The nuclear weapons industry is one of the most powerful drivers behind, and one of the few beneficiaries of, the continuing the nuclear arms race.

This industry is supported by many non-nuclear States, whose public funds and banks invest in the corporations making nuclear weapons and their delivery systems. As such, UNFOLD ZERO has proposed that the nuclear ban treaty include a specific prohibition on the financing of nuclear weapons.
The draft treaty includes a prohibition on aiding, encouraging or inducing others to manufacture nuclear weapons, which could be interpreted as banning such investments. However, this is not clear.

UNFOLD ZERO will therefore continue to encourage the negotiating governments to include in the final treaty a specific prohibition on financing the production of nuclear weapons.

Next (final?) round of negotiations in New York

The next round of negotiations on the draft treaty will take place in New York from June 15 – July 7, 2017. It is possible that the negotiations could result in a treaty ready to be adopted by the negotiating governments at the end of this session.

UNFOLD ZERO will join other NGOs in New York to observe the negotiations and to organise side-events to support or influence the negotiations.

There is also an informal one day meeting of government delegations in Geneva on June 2 at which UNFOLD ZERO will speak on the proposal to prohibit financing of nuclear weapons production.

Some side-events at the ban negotiations in New York

  • June 16: Parliamentary Action-Plan for a Nuclear-Weapon-Free World. Organised by PNND
  • June 17: Women’s March to Ban the Bomb
  • June 18: No nukes, no walls, no warming. A Peace & Planet conference
  • June 19: Youth actions and plans for nuclear disarmament. Organised by the Abolition 2000 Youth Working Group
  • June 21: Examples of national implementation measures. Organised by PNND and the World Future Council
  • June 22: Lessons from the Chemical and Biological weapons Conventions. Organised by the International Peace Bureau.
  • June 29: The Ban and the 2018 UN High Level Conference. Organised by UNFOLD ZERO, PNND and Basel Peace Office

For a full list of events see NGO side events.
Yours sincerely
The UNFOLD ZERO team

Related Posts

A nuclear ban is coming – Draft treaty released

 
UNFOLD ZERO Newsletter
Dear friends,
The United Nations negotiations for a legally binding agreement on the prohibition of nuclear weapons have moved into the next (and possibly penultimate) stage.

On May 22, Ambassador Whyte Gómez (Costa Rica), the President of the UN negotiating conference, released a draft of the treaty.

As expected the draft treaty outlines general obligations that would prohibited States parties to the treaty from developing, producing, acquiring, possessing, testing or using nuclear weapons.

The draft treaty also requires states parties to accept safeguards on nuclear energy facilities, with a view to preventing diversion of nuclear energy from peaceful uses to nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices.

The ban treaty and financing of nuclear weapons production

The nuclear weapons industry is one of the most powerful drivers behind, and one of the few beneficiaries of, the continuing the nuclear arms race.

This industry is supported by many non-nuclear States, whose public funds and banks invest in the corporations making nuclear weapons and their delivery systems. As such, UNFOLD ZERO has proposed that the nuclear ban treaty include a specific prohibition on the financing of nuclear weapons.
The draft treaty includes a prohibition on aiding, encouraging or inducing others to manufacture nuclear weapons, which could be interpreted as banning such investments. However, this is not clear.

UNFOLD ZERO will therefore continue to encourage the negotiating governments to include in the final treaty a specific prohibition on financing the production of nuclear weapons.

Next (final?) round of negotiations in New York

The next round of negotiations on the draft treaty will take place in New York from June 15 – July 7, 2017. It is possible that the negotiations could result in a treaty ready to be adopted by the negotiating governments at the end of this session.

UNFOLD ZERO will join other NGOs in New York to observe the negotiations and to organise side-events to support or influence the negotiations.

There is also an informal one day meeting of government delegations in Geneva on June 2 at which UNFOLD ZERO will speak on the proposal to prohibit financing of nuclear weapons production.

Some side-events at the ban negotiations in New York

  • June 16: Parliamentary Action-Plan for a Nuclear-Weapon-Free World. Organised by PNND
  • June 17: Women’s March to Ban the Bomb
  • June 18: No nukes, no walls, no warming. A Peace & Planet conference
  • June 19: Youth actions and plans for nuclear disarmament. Organised by the Abolition 2000 Youth Working Group
  • June 21: Examples of national implementation measures. Organised by PNND and the World Future Council
  • June 22: Lessons from the Chemical and Biological weapons Conventions. Organised by the International Peace Bureau.
  • June 29: The Ban and the 2018 UN High Level Conference. Organised by UNFOLD ZERO, PNND and Basel Peace Office

For a full list of events see NGO side events.
Yours sincerely
The UNFOLD ZERO team

Related Posts

A nuclear ban is coming – Draft treaty released

 
UNFOLD ZERO Newsletter
Dear friends,
The United Nations negotiations for a legally binding agreement on the prohibition of nuclear weapons have moved into the next (and possibly penultimate) stage.

On May 22, Ambassador Whyte Gómez (Costa Rica), the President of the UN negotiating conference, released a draft of the treaty.

As expected the draft treaty outlines general obligations that would prohibited States parties to the treaty from developing, producing, acquiring, possessing, testing or using nuclear weapons.

The draft treaty also requires states parties to accept safeguards on nuclear energy facilities, with a view to preventing diversion of nuclear energy from peaceful uses to nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices.

The ban treaty and financing of nuclear weapons production

The nuclear weapons industry is one of the most powerful drivers behind, and one of the few beneficiaries of, the continuing the nuclear arms race.

This industry is supported by many non-nuclear States, whose public funds and banks invest in the corporations making nuclear weapons and their delivery systems. As such, UNFOLD ZERO has proposed that the nuclear ban treaty include a specific prohibition on the financing of nuclear weapons.
The draft treaty includes a prohibition on aiding, encouraging or inducing others to manufacture nuclear weapons, which could be interpreted as banning such investments. However, this is not clear.

UNFOLD ZERO will therefore continue to encourage the negotiating governments to include in the final treaty a specific prohibition on financing the production of nuclear weapons.

Next (final?) round of negotiations in New York

The next round of negotiations on the draft treaty will take place in New York from June 15 – July 7, 2017. It is possible that the negotiations could result in a treaty ready to be adopted by the negotiating governments at the end of this session.

UNFOLD ZERO will join other NGOs in New York to observe the negotiations and to organise side-events to support or influence the negotiations.

There is also an informal one day meeting of government delegations in Geneva on June 2 at which UNFOLD ZERO will speak on the proposal to prohibit financing of nuclear weapons production.

Some side-events at the ban negotiations in New York

  • June 16: Parliamentary Action-Plan for a Nuclear-Weapon-Free World. Organised by PNND
  • June 17: Women’s March to Ban the Bomb
  • June 18: No nukes, no walls, no warming. A Peace & Planet conference
  • June 19: Youth actions and plans for nuclear disarmament. Organised by the Abolition 2000 Youth Working Group
  • June 21: Examples of national implementation measures. Organised by PNND and the World Future Council
  • June 22: Lessons from the Chemical and Biological weapons Conventions. Organised by the International Peace Bureau.
  • June 29: The Ban and the 2018 UN High Level Conference. Organised by UNFOLD ZERO, PNND and Basel Peace Office

For a full list of events see NGO side events.
Yours sincerely
The UNFOLD ZERO team

Related Posts

Malédiction sur les contrats signés par Sarko

Tout avait si bien comencé! L’arrivé à Rio sous le soleil, l’êntreinte chaleureuse de son ami Lula, la signature d’un mégacontrat d’armament – 6,7 millards d’euros pour cinq sous-marins, dont un nucléaire – et, pour finir, les fêtes de Noel chez le pater de Carla, à São Paulo… Huit ans et des brouetter plus tard, les couleurs de la carte postale bavent un pen: des juges brésiliens et français enquêntet sur la vente de notre quincaillerie militaire en pleine lune de miel entre Sarko et Lula.

US nuclear regulators greatly underestimate potential for nuclear disaster, researchers say

US nuclear regulators greatly underestimate potential for nuclear disaster, researchers say

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) relied on faulty analysis to justify its refusal to adopt a critical measure for protecting Americans from the occurrence of a catastrophic nuclear-waste fire at any one of dozens of reactor sites around the country, according to an article in the May 26 issue of Sciencemagazine. Fallout from such a fire could be considerably larger than the radioactive emissions from the 2011 Fukushima accident in Japan.

Nuclear safety regulation in the post-Fukushima era

Nuclear safety regulation in the post-Fukushima era

The March 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident prompted regulators around the world to take a hard look at their requirements for protecting nuclear plants against severe accidents. In the United States, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) ordered a “top-to-bottom” review of its regulations, and ultimately approved a number of safety upgrades.

A nuclear ban is coming – Draft treaty released

 
UNFOLD ZERO Newsletter
Dear friends,
The United Nations negotiations for a legally binding agreement on the prohibition of nuclear weapons have moved into the next (and possibly penultimate) stage.

On May 22, Ambassador Whyte Gómez (Costa Rica), the President of the UN negotiating conference, released a draft of the treaty.

As expected the draft treaty outlines general obligations that would prohibited States parties to the treaty from developing, producing, acquiring, possessing, testing or using nuclear weapons.

The draft treaty also requires states parties to accept safeguards on nuclear energy facilities, with a view to preventing diversion of nuclear energy from peaceful uses to nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices.

The ban treaty and financing of nuclear weapons production

The nuclear weapons industry is one of the most powerful drivers behind, and one of the few beneficiaries of, the continuing the nuclear arms race.

This industry is supported by many non-nuclear States, whose public funds and banks invest in the corporations making nuclear weapons and their delivery systems. As such, UNFOLD ZERO has proposed that the nuclear ban treaty include a specific prohibition on the financing of nuclear weapons.
The draft treaty includes a prohibition on aiding, encouraging or inducing others to manufacture nuclear weapons, which could be interpreted as banning such investments. However, this is not clear.

UNFOLD ZERO will therefore continue to encourage the negotiating governments to include in the final treaty a specific prohibition on financing the production of nuclear weapons.

Next (final?) round of negotiations in New York

The next round of negotiations on the draft treaty will take place in New York from June 15 – July 7, 2017. It is possible that the negotiations could result in a treaty ready to be adopted by the negotiating governments at the end of this session.

UNFOLD ZERO will join other NGOs in New York to observe the negotiations and to organise side-events to support or influence the negotiations.

There is also an informal one day meeting of government delegations in Geneva on June 2 at which UNFOLD ZERO will speak on the proposal to prohibit financing of nuclear weapons production.

Some side-events at the ban negotiations in New York

  • June 16: Parliamentary Action-Plan for a Nuclear-Weapon-Free World. Organised by PNND
  • June 17: Women’s March to Ban the Bomb
  • June 18: No nukes, no walls, no warming. A Peace & Planet conference
  • June 19: Youth actions and plans for nuclear disarmament. Organised by the Abolition 2000 Youth Working Group
  • June 21: Examples of national implementation measures. Organised by PNND and the World Future Council
  • June 22: Lessons from the Chemical and Biological weapons Conventions. Organised by the International Peace Bureau.
  • June 29: The Ban and the 2018 UN High Level Conference. Organised by UNFOLD ZERO, PNND and Basel Peace Office

For a full list of events see NGO side events.
Yours sincerely
The UNFOLD ZERO team

Related Posts

Will Cheap Renewables Make Nuclear Power Obsolete?

Will Cheap Renewables Make Nuclear Power Obsolete?

Cheap renewables are mounting a serious challenge to nuclear power, which in 2017 has had a difficult year. Key projects have been abandoned, costs are rising, and politicians in countries which previously championed the industry are withdrawing their support.

A nuclear ban is coming – Draft treaty released

 
UNFOLD ZERO Newsletter
Dear friends,
The United Nations negotiations for a legally binding agreement on the prohibition of nuclear weapons have moved into the next (and possibly penultimate) stage.

On May 22, Ambassador Whyte Gómez (Costa Rica), the President of the UN negotiating conference, released a draft of the treaty.

As expected the draft treaty outlines general obligations that would prohibited States parties to the treaty from developing, producing, acquiring, possessing, testing or using nuclear weapons.

The draft treaty also requires states parties to accept safeguards on nuclear energy facilities, with a view to preventing diversion of nuclear energy from peaceful uses to nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices.

The ban treaty and financing of nuclear weapons production

The nuclear weapons industry is one of the most powerful drivers behind, and one of the few beneficiaries of, the continuing the nuclear arms race.

This industry is supported by many non-nuclear States, whose public funds and banks invest in the corporations making nuclear weapons and their delivery systems. As such, UNFOLD ZERO has proposed that the nuclear ban treaty include a specific prohibition on the financing of nuclear weapons.
The draft treaty includes a prohibition on aiding, encouraging or inducing others to manufacture nuclear weapons, which could be interpreted as banning such investments. However, this is not clear.

UNFOLD ZERO will therefore continue to encourage the negotiating governments to include in the final treaty a specific prohibition on financing the production of nuclear weapons.

Next (final?) round of negotiations in New York

The next round of negotiations on the draft treaty will take place in New York from June 15 – July 7, 2017. It is possible that the negotiations could result in a treaty ready to be adopted by the negotiating governments at the end of this session.

UNFOLD ZERO will join other NGOs in New York to observe the negotiations and to organise side-events to support or influence the negotiations.

There is also an informal one day meeting of government delegations in Geneva on June 2 at which UNFOLD ZERO will speak on the proposal to prohibit financing of nuclear weapons production.

Some side-events at the ban negotiations in New York

  • June 16: Parliamentary Action-Plan for a Nuclear-Weapon-Free World. Organised by PNND
  • June 17: Women’s March to Ban the Bomb
  • June 18: No nukes, no walls, no warming. A Peace & Planet conference
  • June 19: Youth actions and plans for nuclear disarmament. Organised by the Abolition 2000 Youth Working Group
  • June 21: Examples of national implementation measures. Organised by PNND and the World Future Council
  • June 22: Lessons from the Chemical and Biological weapons Conventions. Organised by the International Peace Bureau.
  • June 29: The Ban and the 2018 UN High Level Conference. Organised by UNFOLD ZERO, PNND and Basel Peace Office

For a full list of events see NGO side events.
Yours sincerely
The UNFOLD ZERO team

Related Posts

Malédiction sur les contrats signés par Sarko

Tout avait si bien comencé! L’arrivé à Rio sous le soleil, l’êntreinte chaleureuse de son ami Lula, la signature d’un mégacontrat d’armament – 6,7 millards d’euros pour cinq sous-marins, dont un nucléaire – et, pour finir, les fêtes de Noel chez le pater de Carla, à São Paulo… Huit ans et des brouetter plus tard, les couleurs de la carte postale bavent un pen: des juges brésiliens et français enquêntet sur la vente de notre quincaillerie militaire en pleine lune de miel entre Sarko et Lula.

US nuclear regulators greatly underestimate potential for nuclear disaster, researchers say

US nuclear regulators greatly underestimate potential for nuclear disaster, researchers say

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) relied on faulty analysis to justify its refusal to adopt a critical measure for protecting Americans from the occurrence of a catastrophic nuclear-waste fire at any one of dozens of reactor sites around the country, according to an article in the May 26 issue of Sciencemagazine. Fallout from such a fire could be considerably larger than the radioactive emissions from the 2011 Fukushima accident in Japan.

Nuclear safety regulation in the post-Fukushima era

Nuclear safety regulation in the post-Fukushima era

The March 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident prompted regulators around the world to take a hard look at their requirements for protecting nuclear plants against severe accidents. In the United States, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) ordered a “top-to-bottom” review of its regulations, and ultimately approved a number of safety upgrades.

A nuclear ban is coming – Draft treaty released

 
UNFOLD ZERO Newsletter
Dear friends,
The United Nations negotiations for a legally binding agreement on the prohibition of nuclear weapons have moved into the next (and possibly penultimate) stage.

On May 22, Ambassador Whyte Gómez (Costa Rica), the President of the UN negotiating conference, released a draft of the treaty.

As expected the draft treaty outlines general obligations that would prohibited States parties to the treaty from developing, producing, acquiring, possessing, testing or using nuclear weapons.

The draft treaty also requires states parties to accept safeguards on nuclear energy facilities, with a view to preventing diversion of nuclear energy from peaceful uses to nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices.

The ban treaty and financing of nuclear weapons production

The nuclear weapons industry is one of the most powerful drivers behind, and one of the few beneficiaries of, the continuing the nuclear arms race.

This industry is supported by many non-nuclear States, whose public funds and banks invest in the corporations making nuclear weapons and their delivery systems. As such, UNFOLD ZERO has proposed that the nuclear ban treaty include a specific prohibition on the financing of nuclear weapons.
The draft treaty includes a prohibition on aiding, encouraging or inducing others to manufacture nuclear weapons, which could be interpreted as banning such investments. However, this is not clear.

UNFOLD ZERO will therefore continue to encourage the negotiating governments to include in the final treaty a specific prohibition on financing the production of nuclear weapons.

Next (final?) round of negotiations in New York

The next round of negotiations on the draft treaty will take place in New York from June 15 – July 7, 2017. It is possible that the negotiations could result in a treaty ready to be adopted by the negotiating governments at the end of this session.

UNFOLD ZERO will join other NGOs in New York to observe the negotiations and to organise side-events to support or influence the negotiations.

There is also an informal one day meeting of government delegations in Geneva on June 2 at which UNFOLD ZERO will speak on the proposal to prohibit financing of nuclear weapons production.

Some side-events at the ban negotiations in New York

  • June 16: Parliamentary Action-Plan for a Nuclear-Weapon-Free World. Organised by PNND
  • June 17: Women’s March to Ban the Bomb
  • June 18: No nukes, no walls, no warming. A Peace & Planet conference
  • June 19: Youth actions and plans for nuclear disarmament. Organised by the Abolition 2000 Youth Working Group
  • June 21: Examples of national implementation measures. Organised by PNND and the World Future Council
  • June 22: Lessons from the Chemical and Biological weapons Conventions. Organised by the International Peace Bureau.
  • June 29: The Ban and the 2018 UN High Level Conference. Organised by UNFOLD ZERO, PNND and Basel Peace Office

For a full list of events see NGO side events.
Yours sincerely
The UNFOLD ZERO team

Related Posts

A nuclear ban is coming – Draft treaty released

UNFOLD ZERO Newsletter
Dear friends,
The United Nations negotiations for a legally binding agreement on the prohibition of nuclear weapons have moved into the next (and possibly penultimate) stage.

On May 22, Ambassador Whyte Gómez (Costa Rica), the President of the UN negotiating conference, released a draft of the treaty.

As expected the draft treaty outlines general obligations that would prohibited States parties to the treaty from developing, producing, acquiring, possessing, testing or using nuclear weapons.

The draft treaty also requires states parties to accept safeguards on nuclear energy facilities, with a view to preventing diversion of nuclear energy from peaceful uses to nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices.

The ban treaty and financing of nuclear weapons production

The nuclear weapons industry is one of the most powerful drivers behind, and one of the few beneficiaries of, the continuing the nuclear arms race.

This industry is supported by many non-nuclear States, whose public funds and banks invest in the corporations making nuclear weapons and their delivery systems. As such, UNFOLD ZERO has proposed that the nuclear ban treaty include a specific prohibition on the financing of nuclear weapons.
The draft treaty includes a prohibition on aiding, encouraging or inducing others to manufacture nuclear weapons, which could be interpreted as banning such investments. However, this is not clear.

UNFOLD ZERO will therefore continue to encourage the negotiating governments to include in the final treaty a specific prohibition on financing the production of nuclear weapons.

Next (final?) round of negotiations in New York

The next round of negotiations on the draft treaty will take place in New York from June 15 – July 7, 2017. It is possible that the negotiations could result in a treaty ready to be adopted by the negotiating governments at the end of this session.

UNFOLD ZERO will join other NGOs in New York to observe the negotiations and to organise side-events to support or influence the negotiations.

There is also an informal one day meeting of government delegations in Geneva on June 2 at which UNFOLD ZERO will speak on the proposal to prohibit financing of nuclear weapons production.

Some side-events at the ban negotiations in New York

  • June 16: Parliamentary Action-Plan for a Nuclear-Weapon-Free World. Organised by PNND
  • June 17: Women’s March to Ban the Bomb
  • June 18: No nukes, no walls, no warming. A Peace & Planet conference
  • June 19: Youth actions and plans for nuclear disarmament. Organised by the Abolition 2000 Youth Working Group
  • June 21: Examples of national implementation measures. Organised by PNND and the World Future Council
  • June 22: Lessons from the Chemical and Biological weapons Conventions. Organised by the International Peace Bureau.
  • June 29: The Ban and the 2018 UN High Level Conference. Organised by UNFOLD ZERO, PNND and Basel Peace Office

For a full list of events see NGO side events.
Yours sincerely
The UNFOLD ZERO team

Related Posts

Will Cheap Renewables Make Nuclear Power Obsolete?

Will Cheap Renewables Make Nuclear Power Obsolete?

Cheap renewables are mounting a serious challenge to nuclear power, which in 2017 has had a difficult year. Key projects have been abandoned, costs are rising, and politicians in countries which previously championed the industry are withdrawing their support.